Exercise?

[HanLea]

Hi guys! Just wanted to know everyone's experiences with exercise, does it leave you in more pain or does it relieve your pain? I know the day after exercise I am in agony even after light exercises, all tips and comments welcome (every little helps)

[bluebell99]

Hi

I find swimming is my most useful exercise. It makes me tired and a bit achy but does give you the feel good factor as good endorphins are released.

Kay

[Hidden]

I guess it depends on what exercise you do! personally I find hydrotherapy in warm water helps me to strengthen muscles and loosen tight joints. Ive done this for years now (and I pay £5 a session) I can feel the difference once dressed walking down the hospital corridor that my mobility feels better, I rest up from anything further the rest of the day and each morning gentle stretches. at week end my daughter likes to swim and I go and sit in the Jacuzzi in the warm bubbles. just as effective especially if nobody else is in the tub and I can do some stretching. I have been advised to try pilates! I might go along and watch and see, if it looks too much then no thanks!! I always found land exercise far too strenuous for fibro/ cfs/ME or any form of arthritis only supervised at occ therapy classes and even then I didn't join in all of it.

[HanLea in reply to Hidden]

Thank you very much xx

[fenbadger]

You've kind of made me think of something. I'm going on holiday next week, and in my room is a bath. The hotel has a pool. So maybe I will spend some time in both.

Exercise can be what you make it. We're not training for a marathon. (on local radio this morning there was a lady going to do 6 marathons in 5 days in Africa. I thought poor misguided fool, however good the cause )

Aching depends on what I do. Tai chi is fine now I'm used to it. I do some physiotherapy exercises I was given in hospital a few years ago. I've begun using a nearby outside gym. Not as often as I'd like, but I notice I'm getting stronger and more important the movements are easing.

I cycle a lot and have just bought an electric bike. I'll just have to leave the heating off for a bit . My first concern was will it make me lazy. In fact the opposite seems to be true, but we'll wait until the novelty wears off. Because its easier, I go further. I do the same amount of pedalling per mile, but its not as strenuous.

You may have to try several things over a prolonged period of time until you find both the individual movements and the period or number of repetitions that suit you. Beware of folk telling you for definite a particular regime will work. You know your body, they don't. We're pretty well all different and what works for one doesn't necessarily work for another.

Something I do is smaller sessions but repeat it later. For instance I find sit ups really hard, so I do a few, then a few minutes of something else, then just before I warm down, do a few more. I can usually manage a few like this. If you repeat your session the next day is when the body strengthens the muscles. This is kind of what we're aiming at, but more important is easing the movement whether joint or muscle. There's a certain value in making something else compensate for what we're losing. Maybe you could try shortening your regime, but repeat it a bit more often. Build up slowly. Try 5 of something for a few weeks then make it 6, 7, 8. You don't have to do 500 press-ups to impress anyone. Good luck

[HanLea in reply to fenbadger]

Thank you so much for your reply I'm really grateful of your advice x

[Hidden in reply to fenbadger]

well have a great break fenbadger- anywhere safe (no crocs) you can have a soak or stretch in a warm pool -jump in!!

[spider555]

I do pilates and stretching exercises.

Or else I go for the burn. Literally.

[HanLea in reply to spider555]

Thankyou!!

[spider555 in reply to HanLea]

Forgot walking too.

I have to exercise. Probably more than I should but it's so hard.

[notmebutme]

I hadn't been able to do any meaningful exercise for a few years without being in pain for several days afterwards, some days barely able to walk. I tried different types of activity but whatever I did seemed to cause me pain. Until I bought an air walker. It's a bit like a cross trainer but your feet go backwards and forwards rather than pedal like a bike. No bending of joints, no impact.

I started doing a few minutes here and there - no pain. Over time I upped it to 5 minutes going at different paces and stride. Still no pain. So I started doing the couch to 5k program but on the air walker - just changing my stride to differentiate walking and "running".

I can now "run" on the air walker for 30 minutes - for the last 5 minutes or so I do get a twinge in my knee and my feet go a little numb except for a stabbing pain in the arch of my right foot and my legs feel like jelly when I've finished BUT I do feel better overall for doing it and none of the pain is lasting. I try to do it 3 times a week along with some stretches and "planks" to try and strengthen my core.

[HanLea in reply to notmebutme]

Thankyou so much for your advice xxx

[TeddyC]

I like to walk about 5k a day, weather permitting, can't do it in the winter, getting cold makes me worse. I do stretches in the morning and then walk. I find I am generally better, but have had a sudden flare up when I had to sit down and get a taxi home! 😳

[HanLea in reply to TeddyC]

Thank you for your advice!! Isnt it an annoying thing to live with x

[TeddyC in reply to HanLea]

It really is. I wasn't diagnosed for years, by the time I was I had already worked out what helped me, and I had already been given medication for other conditions associated with fibro, so nothing really changed!

[HanLea in reply to TeddyC]

I'm 22 and was diagnosed about a month ago so now I'm just finding whats what really suffered for about 4/5 just assumed it was my hyper mobility syndrome and really bad growing pains and other problems I've had in the end I just thought somethings not right

[Dinkie]

This probably doesn't help much but yes and no. Yes very gentle exercise can help me with the pain but equally one has to know when to stop. I learned the hard way so now take a rollator with me (took ages to admit I need assistance) as now I can sit whenever I need to before continuing. Walking is about as much as I can do exercise wise but with the rollator at least the dog gets a fair walk in the park as I just sit and throw the ball. When I have overdone it epsom salt baths help.

[HanLea in reply to Dinkie]

It does help, every little helps!! I've tried epsom salts and unfortunately had no joy 😣

[Janet28]

Hi HanLea I found the best excersize is swimming and then sit in the hot tub & sauna to warm my bones lol. I also try to do yoga every day but only very gentle stretches, nothing that hurts. Palates is surposed to be very good.

Luv Jan xx

[HanLea in reply to Janet28]

Thankyou! Xx

[Rosepetal60]

Swimming gives me pain. But floating on my back in the water is great. Sculling in the water is good

[TheAuthor]

Hi HanLea

I undertake a daily 20 minute physio routine that I did with my physiotherapist a few years ago. I still do it everyday, and I have found it has helped with my pain and also to keep me more mobile and active. I want to sincerely wish you all the best of luck.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken

[HanLea]

Thankyou DJ! I will definitely be starting aerobic exercise x

[Hidden]

I do gentle yoga some days, stretches and walking , gardening when the sunshine. Does running around with the Grandchildren count ?

[HanLea in reply to Hidden]

Definetly counts!!

[AnnMarg]

I find it essential but only in moderation. I can walk, bike and do yoga in moderation. I cannot lift weights and I'm not sure why but swimming causes strain. Start with 15 minutes of exercise a day at a slow pace and work up slowly. That will help you ease into it and avoid making symptoms worse.